Brock Nelson

Brock Christian Nelson (born October 15, 1991) is an American professional ice hockey player for the Colorado Avalanche of the National Hockey League (NHL). Nelson was drafted 30th overall in the first round of the 2010 NHL entry draft by the New York Islanders. Prior to playing at professional level, Nelson played for the University of North Dakota. His first experience in professional level was in the American Hockey League (AHL) with the Islanders' affiliate, the Bridgeport Sound Tigers. Once he reached the NHL on a full-time basis, he would go on to play eleven seasons with the Islanders before being traded to the Avalanche.

Brock Nelson
Nelson with the New York Islanders in 2018
Born	(1991-10-15) October 15, 1991 (age 33) Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S.[1]
Height	6 ft 3 in (191 cm)
Weight	205 lb (93 kg; 14 st 9 lb)
Position	Center
Shoots	Left
NHL team Former teams	Colorado Avalanche New York Islanders
National team	United States
NHL draft	30th overall, 2010 New York Islanders
Playing career	2012–present

Playing career

Early career

Nelson played ice hockey at Warroad High School, where he was a finalist for the Minnesota Mr. Hockey Award, given to the top Minnesota high school player. He finished the 2009–10 season with 39 goals and 34 assists for 73 points in 25 games for Warroad.^[2] On September 24, 2009, Nelson committed to play college ice hockey for the University of North Dakota after considering Bemidji State and Nebraska Omaha^[3] and later partook in the 2010 USA Hockey National Junior Evaluation Camp.^[4] Nelson was selected 30th overall by the New York Islanders of the National Hockey League (NHL) in the 2010 NHL entry draft.^[5]

Collegiate

Nelson competed with the University of North Dakota Fighting Sioux for two seasons while majoring in pre-investments.^[6] He recorded his first collegiate goal on a power play to lift the Fighting Sioux 3–2 over Minnesota Duluth.^[7] Later in the season, he recorded his first two-goal game in a win over Robert Morris Colonials.^[8] He recorded a goal off an assist from Joe Gleason to help lead the Fighting Sioux to the WCHA Final Five.^[9] Nelson ended the season with the Tom Hoghaug Memorial Scholarship as he led all Sioux freshmen in points and goals.^[6] He was also named to the All-WCHA Team and WCHA All-Tournament Team.^[10]

Brock Nelson with the Islanders in 2020.

In his sophomore season, Nelson played on a line with Corban Knight and Danny Kristo.^[11] By the conclusion of the 2011–12 season, Nelson was named to the All-WCHA Third Team after leading all WCHA players with 20 goals and becoming UND's youngest 20 goal scorer since Jonathan Toews.^[12] He was also named a Inside College Hockey All-American,^[13] to College Hockey News Second Team,^[14] and Inside College Hockey's WCHA Breakthrough Player of the Year.^[15] Nelson ended his collegiate career by signing an Entry Level Contract with the New York Islanders on April 3, 2012.^[16]

Professional

Nelson began his professional career with the Islanders' minor league affiliate, the American Hockey League's (AHL) Bridgeport Sound Tigers after the 2011–12 season, during the 2012 Calder Cup playoffs. He eventually made his NHL debut during the 2013 Stanley Cup playoffs with the Islanders after the 2012–13 regular season.^[17] He registered his first NHL point the following season on October 8, 2013, an assist on a goal by Peter Regin in a 6–1 win against the Phoenix Coyotes.^[18] His first NHL goal was scored on October 22, 2013, against Roberto Luongo of the Vancouver Canucks.^[19]

On October 9, 2017, St. Louis Blues enforcer Robert Bortuzzo cross-checked Nelson multiple times while he was down after Nelson collided with a teammate. Bortuzzo was later fined $3,091.40.^[20]

On May 23, 2019, after a career year in the 2018–19 season with 53 points under Barry Trotz, Nelson signed a six-year, $36 million contract to remain with the Islanders.^[21]

On April 5, 2021, Nelson was named alternate captain of the Islanders in absence of the injured Anders Lee.^[22]

On November 4, 2021, Nelson scored a career-high four goals in a 6-2 win against the Montreal Canadiens.^[23]

On November 23, 2021, it was announced that Nelson would be out 2–4 weeks with a lower body injury.

In the 2024–25 season, the final season of his six-year contract in New York, Nelson continued to contribute in a top-six scoring role in posting 20 goals and 43 points through 61 regular season games. Approaching the NHL trade deadline and with the Islanders on the outside of playoff contention, Nelson's 13-year tenure with the team ended as he was traded along with Islanders' prospect William Dufour, to the Colorado Avalanche in exchange for Calum Ritchie, Oliver Kylington, a conditional first and third-round picks on March 6, 2025.^[24]

International play

Medal record
Representing  United States
Men's ice hockey
World Championships
	2015 Czech Republic
World Junior Championships
	2011 United States

Nelson plays internationally for the United States. At the 2011 World Junior Championships, Nelson helped the Americans to a bronze medal, recording one assist in 5 games. Nelson was selected as an alternate captain for Team USA in the 2017 IIHF World Championship.^[25]

Personal life

Nelson's uncle Dave Christian was on the 1980 United States Miracle on Ice gold medal team, and was an NHL veteran who played over 1,000 games. His grandfather, Bill Christian, and great uncle, Roger Christian, were both on the 1960 United States gold medal team and founded Christian Brothers, a company that made ice hockey sticks in Warroad, Minnesota, from 1964 to 2003.^[5][26] Another great uncle, Gordon Christian played for the United States at the 1956 Winter Olympics, capturing a silver medal.^[27] While his mother did not partake in competitive ice hockey, she was a figure skater.^[28]

Nelson's wife Karley Sylvester is a former Minnesota Ms. Hockey and competed on the University of Wisconsin's women's ice hockey team.^[29] Together, they have four children.^[30]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

				Regular season						Playoffs
Season	Team	League		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
2007–08	Warroad High School	MNHS		24	12	7	19	2		3	1	1	2	0
2008–09	Warroad High School	MNHS		25	35	23	58	14		3	6	5	11	0
2009–10	Warroad High School	MNHS		25	39	34	73	38		3	8	4	12	6
2009–10	Team Great Plains	MHSEL		24	16	16	32	12		—	—	—	—	—
2010–11	University of North Dakota	WCHA		42	8	13	21	27		—	—	—	—	—
2011–12	University of North Dakota	WCHA		42	28	19	47	4		—	—	—	—	—
2011–12	Bridgeport Sound Tigers	AHL		4	0	0	0	0		2	0	0	0	0
2012–13	Bridgeport Sound Tigers	AHL		66	25	27	52	34		—	—	—	—	—
2012–13	New York Islanders	NHL		—	—	—	—	—		1	0	0	0	0
2013–14	New York Islanders	NHL		72	14	12	26	12		—	—	—	—	—
2013–14	Bridgeport Sound Tigers	AHL		1	0	1	1	2		—	—	—	—	—
2014–15	New York Islanders	NHL		82	20	22	42	24		6	2	0	2	2
2015–16	New York Islanders	NHL		81	26	14	40	30		11	1	4	5	6
2016–17	New York Islanders	NHL		81	20	25	45	36		—	—	—	—	—
2017–18	New York Islanders	NHL		82	19	16	35	43		—	—	—	—	—
2018–19	New York Islanders	NHL		82	25	28	53	28		8	4	0	4	2
2019–20	New York Islanders	NHL		68	26	28	54	32		22	9	9	18	12
2020–21	New York Islanders	NHL		56	18	15	33	14		19	7	5	12	4
2021–22	New York Islanders	NHL		72	37	22	59	33		—	—	—	—	—
2022–23	New York Islanders	NHL		82	36	39	75	24		6	2	3	5	4
2023–24	New York Islanders	NHL		82	34	35	69	28		5	2	2	4	10
2024–25	New York Islanders	NHL		61	20	23	43	14		—	—	—	—	—
2024–25	Colorado Avalanche	NHL		19	6	7	13	4
NHL totals				920	301	286	587	322		78	27	23	50	40

International

Year	Team	Event	Result		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
2011	United States	WJC			5	0	1	1	0
2014	United States	WC	6th		8	5	2	7	20
2015	United States	WC			10	6	4	10	8
2016	United States	WC	4th		6	1	3	4	2
2017	United States	WC	5th		8	4	3	7	2
2024	United States	WC	5th		8	3	4	7	4
Junior totals					5	0	1	1	0
Senior totals					40	19	16	35	36

Awards and honors

Award	Year	Ref
College
All-WCHA Third Team	2011–12
WCHA All-Tournament Team	2012	[31]
NHL
NHL All-Star Game	2023